Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-07-25

SANNAAAtr- a. WIN a ASN4 aSSt ANA a pass ~
Cincinnati. Why l wanted TO 90
there | can't tell even now. but
wanted 10 go somewhere-to run
away from myself, if possible. The
railroads weren't connected through
N those days IS they are now, and
the best my friend could do was 10
give me a pass TO Buffalo. but he also
gave me letters which procured me
passes the rest of the way, and left
New York that night accompanied by
two bottles Of whiskey, q clean shirt
and three ugly little red and green
devils that had dogged nv more So
beT footsteps during the previous
week. Recourse to the contents Of
the bottles had the effect TO disperse
the devils for the night At least, and
IN due course Of time and circum-
stance l arrived in Cincinnati alone,
the devils having evidently missed a
connection somewhere.
The change Of scene seemed TO do
me good, but was still a long way
from being the same man who had
left Washington two months before
in excellent health and ebullient spir-
its, and an equally great distance
from the goal Of sobriety. However,
l realized the necessity Of obtaining
employment at once, as l didn't
know a soul in the town, and my f.
nancial affairs were in q very emhar-
RAISING condition. 1 think had less
than a dollar when this prudential
suggestion crept upon me, and in
furtherance Of its behest l made ap-
plication for q situation at the first
Office l came TO.
Fortunately the proprietors were
as anxious to secure help as was to
get into a position Of self-sustenance,
and they didn't look me over very
carefully, so I was engaged TO report
for duty that night, which l did. For
obvious reasons 1 drank very spar
ingly before going to work and felt
very shakv as the night wore on. l
tried hard to overcome my nervous
ness BY close application to my work
and had almost deluded myself into
the belief that / would succeed, when,
obeving an uncomfortable impulse 10
look up. knowing full well what l
should see, raised my head, and TO
my dismay there sat the three little
devils looking, if possible, more grew
some than ever, but as clipper as any
devils ever were and manifestly de-
lighted TO have found me again. They
must have UUme in on late train,
but how they managed TO procure my
address so soon after their arrival
and before l had fairly memorized it
myself I have never been able TO sur
mise. III swear l didn't ask 'em.
They took seats In front Of nv
desk, but were sufficiently consider
ate Of my four or five hours connec-
ton with the Office to refrain from
implying intimate acquaintance with
me by betraying solicitude for my
b.aI-b ,.oeo,y;,,rr p, -,r7,. yI+ara aCuS
departure from New York, or indulg-
ing in other remarks calculated 10
convey the impression TO strangers
that nv associations were bad, and
for their delicacy and tact l shall al
WAYS feel grateful, particularly as we
parted that night never to meet again
on earth. at least"
How did you manage TO get rid
Of them:
4 didn't get rid Of them; they
shook me. The sight Of those little
glinning sprites sitting in front Of
me made me awfully thirsty and
frightfullv nervous. / stood it for q
little while, but finally asked permis-
sion TO 20 out and get something 70
eat Permission was granted, but /
couldn't have eaten anything had my
life depended upon my doing so.
Twas whiskey / wanted, and want
ed It mighty quick, too. ! went out
and the three little devils followed,
one at each Of my shoulders and the
third Immediately behind me.
The Office In which was employ
ed was located on Fourth street, just
below Walnut, q part Of the city az
dark and deserted at that time and at
that hour Of the night (between y
and / o'clOck) as in the dry goods or
leather district Of New York. Was
wholly unacquainted with the neigh
borhoOd, Of course, and hadn't the
faintest idea where TO look for q sa-
loon, but ] was rapidly approaching
the conviction that must find one
soon or 20 crazy. The devils were
close upon my heels, and ] fancied ]
could see flashes Of heat radiating
from them and seOrching my flesh.
Closer and closer they pressed me 81
] walked hurriedly up Fourth street
10 Sycamore, where, not finding q
bar-rOom open, stopped and retrac-
ed ny steps, intending 70 try Fourth
street IN the opposite direction from
Walnut As ] returned - Walnut
street something perhaps twas the
devils-iEnpelled me 70 look down the
incline toward the river, and, altho'
] had done 80 when crossed that
street - 20 up. without seeing light,
] did % again, and u my unbouBded
delight ] saw q red lamp, dim. 70 ~
sure, but still % nv uBmistakable ~
idence that ] had found what wac
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